Fuel for Thought

Sometimes you walk a fine line

  Elogs. Yes, another article about elogs, but I hope this one is a little different. I am a solo driver and have been running elogs for a while. If you run team, you probably do not have to worry about some of the restrictions that come with the elogs. As a team you can simply switch drivers, given your co-driver has had enough off duty time to begin driving again, and keep rolling. As a solo, it seems planning your trip is even more crucial. Maximizing your time and getting the load delivered, safely and on time. As it stands now, 14 hours with 11 hours available to drive plus a 30 minute break before 8 hours is the rule. Deciding when and where to take your breaks can either help or hinder your success. I plan where to buy fuel along my route and try to make my 30 minute break coincide with it. Even something as little as fueling FIRST and then taking the break can have an impact on the rest of your trip. Fueling , On Duty Not Driving, counts against your clock, but fueling BEFORE taking your 30 minute break can give you that time back after the break.

What about the infamous LINE 5 ?

  Each carrier currently will set certain parameters regarding OFF DUTY DRIVING ( Personal Conveyance or Line 5) . Off duty driving must be Unladen (not loaded), can not be used to go to a shipper, or used when you are placed OOS(out of service) . You are allowed a set amount of time for Off Duty Driving per day. That means from 12:00 AM to 11:59:59 PM each day and in the timezone of your Home terminal. Just because you are on the west coast and it is up to 3 hours earlier than your home terminal, it still goes by you home terminal time. So what does than mean for you? Well, if you are deadheading to get into a better freight area, do some shopping, see a movie or even to go home, not under dispatch, you can utilize this “extra time” to move. Also, since it is OFF DUTY, all driving in this status will count towards your 10 hour or 30 minute breaks, depending on which one you are due to take.

  Always follow your carrier’s guidelines for using Line 5, and also follow the regulations regarding its’ usage. But knowing how it works can be very beneficial.

  One other note about Off Duty Driving, the miles run do NOT add to your daily mileage on your log. However, the fuel burned will need to be replenished, this is the trade off in my opinion. Fuel burned is fuel burned. Plain and simple. Fuel doesn’t care if it is for laden or unladen miles, but your official MPG does. I say official because your MPG will be the same but with Off Duty Driving, the miles are not recorded and the fuel burned will decrease your reported MPG.

100 miles X 5 MPG = 20 gallons

100 miles + 50 miles off duty X 5 MPG =30 gallons

Since off duty driving miles do not get recorded for your day,

100 miles / 30 gallons = 3.33 MPG

Now your fuel tax could be based on 3.33 MPG instead of 5 MPG.

 When deciding to use Off Duty Driving, consider more than just the extra “free” drive time. Weigh the options and decide if using it is really to your advantage.

  Remember, nothing is free, there is always an associated cost to pay.

  More info about HOS and Off Duty Driving can be found at FMCSA.DOT.GOV

See you down the road,

Greg

Time is money.

- Benjamin Franklin